Improvement in hames



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GEORGE Br. DU-RKEE, or ALBEN, Naw vonk.

Letters Patent Na. 69,550, dated October 8, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN EAMES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Beit known that I, GEORGE B. DURKEF., of Alden, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in IIamcs for Harnesses; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. making a part of this specification, in which- Figure I isa frontview of a pair of myimproved haines.

Figure II is adetail view of my improved adjustable connecting-link, and

Figure III is a detail view of my improved device for fastening the hamcs to the link.

'lhe nature of this invention consists, iirst, in forming in the body of cach hame one or more telescopic joints, each connect-ed and fastened with set-screws or springs, by means of which the haines may be iengthcncd or shortened in a manner to accommodate all sizes of collars; second, in making a link for connecting the lower ends of thc haines longitudinally adjustable in n. manner to increase or diminish the distance between the loops, by means 'of screws, spring-stops, or equivalents; third, in the construction and use of a combined hook and lever, `for connecting the llame to the loop ofthe link.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

A represents the main body of my improved haine. It is made of iron or other material, and provided with an eye upon the top, where it is attached to its mate by means of a strap and buckle, or in any other common and well-known manner. B represents the tug-iron, to which the traces of the harness are attached. It is casd or otherwise formed onto the main body of the llame, and projects at right angles thereto. C represents my improved device for lengthening or shortening the hame, so as to accommodate it to all sizes of collars. It consists of a telescopic joint, either above or below the tug-iron B, or both above and below the same, as shown in Fig. I. A screw o r screws, c', or spring-stops or other equivalent devices, are used for the purpose of faste'ning thenparts ix'inly together. D represents the link which serves as a connection of the lower ends of the haines, and'to which the pole-strap and martingale are connected. This link is made adjustable, being bored out lengthwise, and having a female screw-thread cut in the said bore. D represent two loops, having screwlshanks d2, which screw into the opposite ends of the bore of the link. By this means an adjustment of the haines, so as to increase or diminish their size according to the size of the collars, is effected, similar to the telescopic joint C above described. In lieu of the screw-Shanks d2, the loops may be provided with springcatches as a fastening within the hollow portion' of the link, or the adjustability of the loops may be e'ected in any other simple or convenient manner. I contemplate using, in the manufacture of my improved hames, either one or both of these devices for lengthening or shortening them to accommodate any collar. E represents a hook formed upon the lower end of a. haine, which serves as a connection between the loop D' and the main body thereof. E represents a lever, which is hinged to the hook E, at a point between the curve and the end,

'as show-n at c2. The short end of this lever is bent, and formed in a shape exactly corresponding to that of the hook, and moves in a slot made through the body of the same for that purpose. The other end of the lever is made semicircular at its base', and extends upwardly against the side of the haine. The position and location of the hook and lever, as described, is .shown in Figs. I and III, and the red lines, Fig. III, represent the lever when turned outwardly for the purpose of receiving the loop and drawing it into the hook. The short end of the lever acts as a cam until the loop has passed the end of the hook; andv when the long end of the lever is resting against the main body of the haine, as in Fig. I, the strain ofthe loop upon the hook will also act upon the short end of the lever, which is then enclosed within the slot in the main body of the hook, and the lever will not turn so as to open the hook and release the loop.

When it is required to take off the harness, a slight pressure upon the long end of the lever is sufficient to force the loop out of the hook, and the loop may then be easily slipped over the free end of the lever.

This combined hook and lever, when closed, has the appearance of a solid loop, which greatly adds to the beauty and simplicity of the device.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The telescopic joint C, constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein described.

2. The link D, in combination with the adjustable loops D', for the purposes and substantially as described.

3. The slotted hook E, i'n combination with the hinged lever E, constructed, arranged, and operating in the manner and substantially as herein set forth.

GEO. B. DURKEE.

Witnesses:

F. A. LANGwonTnr, B, I-I. Mnnnnn. 

